PH marks first frozen durian export in China

CONSUMER SPENDING A growing population and increasing tourist arrivals combined to boost demand for consumer goods in Davao, such as traditional fruits mangosteen and durian and meat products. —PHOTOS BY BING GONZALES

MANILA, Philippines — The country has officially started exporting frozen durian products to China, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday.

Maylong Enterprises Corp., a Davao City-based company, shipped 1,050 boxes of frozen durian meat and 300 boxes of durian paste worth P8.2 million, to Nansha District, Guangzhou, China, according to DA.

The DA said the shipment’s delivery from Davao Region began on February 11 and it arrived in China on February 18.

Macario Gonzaga, regional executive director of DA in the Davao Region, said: “From the fertile soils of Davao Region to China’s bustling markets, our frozen durian represents the hopes and dreams of countless farmers.”

“This achievement showcases what we can accomplish through shared vision and purpose,” he added.

More than two-thirds of the durian production in the country occurs in Davao region.

According to the DA, Maylong made history as the first Philippine enterprise to be approved by Chinese authorities to export frozen durian meat and paste.

Maylong’s Chief Operating Officer, May Li, said their company is “to bridge the gap between local farmers and the global stage, ensuring that Philippine durian earns the recognition it truly deserves.”

In 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that durian can now be exported to China, the world’s biggest importer of durian.